Psalm 89
In the first 29 verses of this psalm, the writer, probably one of David's descendants, remembers the covenant promises God had made to David. Following this, and for the next 8 verses, he remembers the warnings God spoke in case David's descendants should turn away from God. Finally, returning to the present, the psalmist cries out, "But You have cast off and abhorred, You have been furious with Your anointed. You have renounced the covenant of Your servant; You have profaned his crown by casting it to the ground!" Simply put, it appears that God has actually had to begin carrying out His warnings. In fact, at the moment of this writing, it may very well be that none of David's sons are upon the throne, for the crown has been "cast to the ground."
But even in such a dark day the psalmist doesn't utterly despair. He does a far better thing: he prays. He says to the Lord, "Lord, where are Your former lovingkindnesses, which You swore to David in Your truth? Remember, Lord the reproach of Your servants - how I bear in my bosom the reproach of the many peoples, with which Your enemies have reproached, O Lord, with which they have reproached the footsteps of Your anointed!" He knows that God's lovingkindness has been sworn to David and to his sons forever, he knows that David's sons have sinned, and he knows the warnings God had made about such apostasy, but he also knows that God had said that He would not remove His lovingkindness from them forever. He prays, in other words, for restoration.
The psalm is certainly applicable to us. It's good for us to be aware of all that God's Word has said to us, including His warnings. And we should not forget all the goodness of God that we have experienced. And, finally, it's also good for us to remember that Jesus Christ has already experienced rejection for us.
We need to remember these things when we have sinned, and we need to acknowledge God's righteousness when He has to visit us with the rod of correction. Then, remembering the awful rejection our Lord suffered upon the Cross, and knowing this psalm, we too can pray for restoration. We need to remember that, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:1:9."
9.10p.m.
Thank-you Al.
I often wonder about the other writers of Psalms besides David and Asaph.
My Amplified Bible names the writer of this Psalm as Ethan the Ezrahite (Is that a follower of Ezra?...Pleae tell me).
I am reading the Psalms slowly as you advised us to and am finding much food for thought.
I do admit to finding this one difficult and your explanation is helpful.
In v. 20 God reminds us that He did anoint David with the anointing oil.......a sign of His Holy Spirit......
Truly our righteousness is as "filthy rags", we feel so clean and washed with each fresh anointing but something always happens to pull us up sharp and we realise we are no better than King David....yes our sins are different but we stand in the same need of forgiveness.
Thank God for His mercy because He loved me enough to send His Son to be the propitiation for my sins.
I am going to re-read this one before I go to sleep tonight.
Sometimes we need hard bread.
I pray that our Father will meet with you in a very special way, and that He will bless the words of this psalm to you as you reread them again.
I don't think the word "Ezrahite" necessarily means relationship to Ezra, as Ezra (the writer of the book) came along much later. There were many, many writers, probably some of them being the Kantors (worship leaders) that led the people each morning.